‘Twas the night before Christmas and scattered around the tree,Mommy was wrapping presents until half past three. When the children awoke and shouted, “Santa Claus was here!” Mommy said, “Kids, a man won’t take credit for my work this year.” 🎄

'Tis the Season

I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas surprises this week. I have a few up my sleeve that I’m dying to share (stay tuned to my Instagram if you’re curious). Growing up, my dad was the king of Christmas finales (likely to the horror of my budget-conscious mother). Every time we assumed the last gift had been opened, he’d shock us with one last extravagance. One year it was an exotic Abyssinian kitten. Another, it was my very own desktop computer. He once surprised my rural Connecticut mom with a swanky floor-length leather coat he bought in New York City (it was the eighties, after all). At the height of Nintendo mania, he miraculously procured a sold out copy of Super Mario Bros 2 - a surprise that prompted a blood-curdling scream of joy. He didn’t always knock it out of the park, however. Tickets to a Broadway performance of Sophocles’ Electra went over like a lead balloon. And there was a confusing set of pink Tiffany champagne flutes during my sophomore year in college. The all-time worst present will forever remain a 10-speed bicycle at age seven. It was huge and unwieldy, with handlebars like the head of an angry ram; all the more poorly received since I had not yet learned how to ride a bike. I’m pretty sure my chronic anxiety began on that day. I can’t blame him though, especially now that I know his true secret: it’s way more fun to plan the surprises than to receive them. Now if only the discontinued Harry Potter Lego set I ordered off the black market would arrive on time… 😬🤞🙏

Arguments like this concern me that men will simply categorize sexual misconduct allegations as “bad” and “not as bad as that guy.” Please don’t mansplain how one form of sexual assault should be less traumatizing than another.

I was talking with a friend this week about Cat Person (the now viral New Yorker story); like many women, we could relate all too well. We got to talking about our experiences of sex ed, and neither of us could recall the concept of consent ever coming up. I won’t repeat that mistake.

While searching for a specific Pendleton beach towel (don’t ask), I came across this very cool shop of vintage apparel and home goods with a New England vibe. I’m pretty sure I had this in my high school closet.

This week’s episode of Fat Mascara (one of my favorite podcasts) featured an interview with Vicky Tsai, founder of the luxe beauty brand Tatcha (fun fact: she hocked her engagement ring to raise startup funds - that’s commitment, folks). I’ve hesitated to try this brand since the prices are steep, but I discovered many affordable travel-sized options on their website AND a free travel-sized jar of the classic rice enzyme powder with the promo code WELCOMEGIFT.

Happy Holidays, from my family to yours!

Have a Very Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️

Woman With A Plan is weekly newsletter by Sarah Richey, a Seattle-based working mom of three feminists in the making.